Abstract: Counselors can play a vital role in addressing the needs of increasing numbers of older persons subject to and at risk for abuse from their families, caretakers, and themselves. In the 1960s there was an increasing awareness of the problems of child abuse. In the 1970s people became aware of the issues surrounding spouse abuse, and services were developed to meet the needs of these victims. the 1980s may be considered the era of awareness for "elder abuse" (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1980). Awareness of the abuse of older persons is at the age that child abuse was 20 years ago (Floyd, 1984). The available evidence suggests that elder abuse is a family phenomenon, with the overwhelming proportion of abuse occurring in the home (Douglas, 1983; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1980).